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College Essay
By: Peter Wu

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College is the gateway that separates between students and adults in the real
world. It is extremely important to decide which college to go to because that college
determines your future. Since my junior year is over, it is finally time to decide what
colleges to look for and narrow down my path. After picking 10 colleges that I would like
to go, I have to break it down to four by thinking realistically too. I use a decision matrix
to pick out the 4 colleges I want to go and also having a high chance of getting accepted.
My top four schools are University of College Park (UMCP), University of Baltimore
County (UMBC), Towson University, and Virginia Tech (VT). The criteria I use to pick
these schools are: tuition, size, engineering major, distance from home, dorm quality, and
ranking. These four schools will be compared with each other to find out which college is
best for me.
The main problem for every student going to college is tuition, because of my
family situation I do not want to put too much weight on my parents and myself after
college so the lower the tuition, the better. Since I want to major around the engineering
field but I have not pin point on a certain engineering study so I would like to have a
wide range of engineering options to experience. Distance is also important to me
because my family will need me to help involving translating or anything involving
English so the closer the college, the faster I can get home and assist them with anything
they need. Although some people may see it as forcing and limiting my choices, I see it
as having responsibility to take care of my family. I prefer the size to have over 17,000
students because I want to meet new people and enjoy a lively environment. Even
though I would dorm for a year, I still like to have a comfortable dorm because I need a

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relaxing atmosphere to study and do my homework. My top schools are not top of the
ranking but they still need to be in the average range.
Starting from UMCP, their tuition fee is 56,581, the in-state is 16,655 per year but
the numbers could change next year but it would still be around that number range
(umd online). Tuition for Towson University is 17,422 per year and full tuition is
58,135(Towson University online). UMBC has estimated around 10,000 per year and a
full tuition of 59,453(UMBC online). Virginia Tech is an out state college so the cost
would double compares to the in state tuition; annual tuition is 24,075 and a full tuition of
VT is 120,000 depending of job and dorm situation (VT online). With a possibility of
having scholarship and student loans, the cost would lower more for some schools but
based on general cost UMCP is the best choice with the lowest price of 23,000. Also with
student loans, having fewer loans is better because of the interest and lowering my life
long burden of paying off my loan.
Ranking is the second most important part of my choices. UMCP ranking is #62
of national universities; Towson University is #216 of national universities, UMBC is
#158 of national universities, and Virginia Tech is #69 of national universities (National
University Ranking Online). Because I want to focus more on engineering, the school
that provides more engineering option is important too. UMBC is a business school, and
have a minor medical program. Towson University is focused more on business,
management, and marketing. Towson has little to none science and engineering related
major. Virginia Tech focuses more on business and communication but when it comes to
engineering, there is no major program that involves engineering and they only teaches
general engineering. UMCP is consider my only choice of engineering because out of all

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the colleges. UMCP is known is a popular engineering school, their famous program
James Clark engineering program is extremely rigorous and helpful also UMCP provides
a lot of engineering options like mechanical, electrical, computer and etc..(umd online).
Also James Clark program will focus more on one engineering fit for every student and
have a statistic of 90% chance of getting a stable jobJames ClarkPamphlet. UMCP
is most likely favorable to be my top 1 school because it matches or fits my criteria and
family situation.
Another major decision is the distance because I have to assist my parents
whenever they need me so I need to be closest as possible. Starting from UMCP, the
distance compare to my house is 28 minutes for one trip so a round trip is around 50
minutes. While my other choices seem to be over an hour such as UMBC takes 2.5 hour
round trip, Towson is near UMBC but further and the round trip is around 3 hours.
Virginia Tech is farthest and has an approximation of 7.5 hour drive to there and back
(Google Maps online). I am require to return home every 2 to 1 week because of
mailing and any assistance they need, so UMCP is the closest out of all and most
convenient out of all. Having to drive back and forth, gas money plays a gigantic role
because I want to save every penny; my overall choice of UMCP as my number 1 school
is even more favorable.
Minor criteria such as dorm environment, and population size, is more of a want
decision rather a have to decision. Ranking the dorm life of the four colleges, Virginia
Tech has to be the top 1 of the 4 because the dorm size is a lot bigger than the rest of the 3
(Virginia Tech online). Having second place of dorm size would be UMCP (UMD
online), having to see for myself, the dorm has two sliding windows and the wall painted

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white but the size made me slightly uncomfortable while I was there. UMBC and Towson
dorms are even smaller and having to rank them would not matter because they are
practically the same. For a good studying environment, Virginia tech would be the best
option also I heard that their food is amazing so that fits perfect with the environment
liles, teacher. I would like a school with a lot of students because socializing another
reason for college instead of studying 24/7. The college with the most student body size
would be UMCP with a total of 37000, VT with 31000, Towson and UMBC have around
18,000-19000 students (Collegenews online). Yet I need to visit the schools myself to
see the social environment because even though there are a lot of students doesnt mean
the environment is lively.
Although these are my top four schools, I narrowed down to my main school to
UMCP because UMCP was top 1 of 5 times for my 6 criteria, however it does not imply
that I will apply only UMCP. I will apply to all 4 of these schools but UMCP will be what
I would like to go the most. Because of their standards of all four schools, I might not get
to any of them so I have to think about going to community college too. In the end, this is
just to pinpoint where I would like to go the most. During my senior year of college I
might change my thoughts about the 4 schools and remove one of them but that all
depends what is going to happen in the future.

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APPENDIX A
UMCP
Must fill out a separate UMD application, with two essays and a couple free
response questions. Must have a counselor recommendation and two teacher
recommendation as well. Also a resume, with SAT and/or ACT scores. Dead line is Nov.
1st for early action and regular decision is January 20th
https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=umd
UMBC
Submit a common application. Must have required high school credit. Send SAT and
ACT scores. Turn in your counselor recommendation with teachers as well. Requires
transcript from high school as well, must submit by February 1.
http://www.umbc.edu/undergraduate/apply/freshmen.html
VT
By applying online, you first need to make an account and make sure you have all your
identity information. Submit VTs own application and SAT/ACT scores. Teachers and
counselor recommendation as well. High School transcript must be sent too. Must submit
by Feburary 15th.
http://www.admiss.vt.edu/apply/application-checklist/

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Towsons
Submit a common app and also one independent essay. Apply for honors or regular and
must submit by January 15. Submit with SAT/Act score, high school transcript and
teacher and counselor recommendation.
http://www.towson.edu/main/admissions/apply/freshman/index.asp

APPENDIX B

Interviewee: Judie Kuo

Current student at UMCP undergrad
What college are you attending?
Maryland University of College park
What major are you currently in?
Marketing and Management
Why this major?

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Because I have a goal of owning a business one day, but if that doesnt
workout, Im also pretty interested in being able to market things.
What is your opinion on your professors and TA?
Some TAs are really good and helpful but sometimes some of them are useless as
a spork. And same goes for the professor because some tend to just teach and leave while
others like to actually help students.
How is your dorm life? Is it too big or too small? Can you study peacefully at your
dorm?
I actually love the dorming life. It really helps us all socialize better, and is much
better than those who commute. Freshmen dorms are a little bit too small in my opinion
but as you go up, it will get better and better. Honestly I cannot study much because of
my roommate but if I were to get a better roommate then I can probably study more at my
dorm.
Why did you choose UMCP?
Because it is close by, and instate is a lot cheaper. Also their business school is on
of the top 50.
Did you receive any scholarship or financial aid?
No.
How are the classroom sizes and environment?

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Depends on the class itself, for major classes such as business, the lecture
contains more than 100 students while discussion classes contain 20ish students. It is not
too bad when the amount is around 20-40 but over if it is over 100 students then I feel
uncomfortable.
What do you think about the food in UMCP?
It is delicious at first but honestly it is so repetitive that it makes me lose my
appetite.
Would you consider this school for an engineering student like me?
Yes, definitely, because their engineering program is amazing but you need to be
dedicated to maintain a high GPA.

Interviewee: Wilson Zheng

Enrolled to UMCP Freshmen year
What college are you going to?
University Maryland of College park
What do you plan on majoring?
Undecided right now.
Why UMCP?
Because it was cheap and closer

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Did financial affect your decision?

Yes
Did you get any scholarship?
I earned the Deans Award Scholarship ($1500)
What was your opinion when you visited UMCP for your first time?
The environment was very nice. It is big and I can tell I will enjoy my four years
hopefully in UMCP. Also current students seem to be very social so I will be enjoying
making new friends.
What was your top choice school?
University of Chicago
Did you apply early action, and decision for UMCP?
Yes, it increased my chances of getting into UMCP too.
Will you be dorming for 4 years or other ideas?
I will be dorming for the 1st year but because it is too early, I do not know what to
do for my last 3 years.
Will you be getting a job at UMCP to pay off some loans?
I want to but a lot of people do too so my chances could be slim.

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Work Cited
Kuo, Judie. Email interview. 1 June 2014.
Zheng, Wilson. Email interview. 1 June 2014
"Skip Menu." Office of Undergraduate Admissions Home Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 05
June 2014 http://www.admiss.vt.edu/
"Tuition & Costs." Tuition and Costs. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 June 2014.
<http://www.towson.edu/main/admissions/tuitionaid/tuition.asp>.
"University of Maryland Undergraduate Catalog 2014-2015." University of Maryland
Undergraduate Catalog 2014-2015. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 June 2014.
<http://www.umd.edu/catalog/index.cfm/show/content.section/c/2/s/233>.
"Best Colleges | College Rankings | US News Education - US News." US News RSS.
N.p., n.d. Web. 05 June 2014. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/bestcolleges/
"Financial Aid." UMBC: & Scholarships. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 June 2014.
<http://www.umbc.edu/financialaid/14-15_ugrd_cost_calculator.html>.
"Apply." - Undergraduate Admissions. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 June 2014.
<http://www.towson.edu/main/admissions/apply/index.asp>.
"UMBC: Undergraduate Admissions." UMBC: Undergraduate Admissions. N.p., n.d.
Web. 05 June 2014. <http://www.umbc.edu/undergraduate/>.

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"Skip Menu." Office of Undergraduate Admissions Apply Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 05
June 2014. <http://www.admiss.vt.edu/apply/>.
"Online Application Login." Online Application Login. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 June 2014.
<https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=umd>.
"Google Maps." Google Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2014.
<https://www.google.com/maps/preview>.
University of College Park. James Clark Engineering. 2014. Print.
Haslem Liles. Teacher. 2014. Interview.